Lauren Hersh, Congregation Beth Shalom/Congregation B'nai Israel, Sacramento, CA
Having grown up "Conservadox," I came to Debbie Friedman's music later in life.
But her music has so enriched my Shabbat worship experience. I find myself humming her melodies long after Orion's belt appears in the sky and the sound of the Havdalah candle is extinguished in the wine, keeping me mindful of Hashem through the week. Like so many others who did not have the privilege of knowing Debbie personally, I still feel as though I've lost a friend.